Ofcom clears Celebrity BB after receiving over 2000 complaints

The TV regulator, Ofcom, has said it will not be investigating complaints for this year's Celebrity Big Brother, after nearly 3000 complaints during the series.

There were 2,736 complaints in total, including 715 about the about Perez Hilton's "sexualised behaviour", 480 about his "threatening behaviour" and 262 about "racially offensive language" by Ken. 215 complaints were made about Alexander O'Neal's exit from the house.

Ken Morley was removed from the house in the first week for "racist language", after the removal of Jeremy Jackson for inappropriate behaviour. Alexander O'Neal walked out on Day 11.

Spin-off show Celebrity Big Brother’s Bit On The Side, received 150 complaints, and was also cleared by Ofcom.

The Ofcom statement:

Quote:

Ofcom carefully assessed all complaints about this series of Celebrity Big Brother and has decided they do not raise issues warranting further investigation under our rules.

We were satisfied that Channel 5 had broadcast clear and appropriate warnings about the potentially offensive content, and that it intervened in heated exchanges and situations at appropriate times.

We also took into account audience expectations for this reality format and the fact that the series was broadcast after the watershed.

Ofcom's broadcast bulletin also lists the various complaint made about the programme, shown in January and February 2015.

Viewers complained to Ofcom about Perez Hilton’s ‘sexualised’ ans ‘threatening’ behaviour, as well as Ken Morley’s use of the word ‘negro’

The media watchdog will not investigate the latest series of Celebrity Big Brother, despite receiving thousands of complaints about it.

There were 2,736 complaints to Ofcom about the Channel 5 show, including 715 about Perez Hilton’s “sexualised behaviour”, 480 about his “threatening behaviour” and 262 about “racially offensive language” when Ken Morley repeatedly used the word “negro”.

An Ofcom spokesman said: “Ofcom carefully assessed a number of complaints about this series of Celebrity Big Brother and has decided they do not raise issues warranting further investigation under our rules.

“We were satisfied Channel 5 had broadcast clear and appropriate warnings about the potentially offensive content, and that it intervened in heated exchanges and situations at appropriate times. We also took into account audience expectations for this reality format and the fact that the series was broadcast after the watershed.”

Ofcom also received complaints about the way Morley and another contestant, Katie Hopkins, were treated when they subsequently appeared on ITV’s Loose Women to discuss the show.

The spokesman said: “Ofcom carefully assessed complaints about the way Ken Morley and Katie Hopkins were treated by panellists during these episodes of Loose Women. We decided that the complaints did not raise issues warranting further investigation under our rules.

“The show often features heated exchanges between guests and controversial topics. In our view, the behaviour of the panellists was in keeping with the programme’s well-established format.”

This year’s series of Celebrity Big Brother was dogged by controversy with Morley, singer Alexander O’Neal and former Baywatch actor Jeremy Jackson all leaving the house unexpectedly.

Morley, 72, was evicted for using “unacceptable language”, O’Neal quit following a series of heated exchanges with Hilton and Jackson, 34, was booted out after former Page 3 girl Chloe Goodman claimed he drunkenly tried to look at her breasts while they were alone in the toilet.

He was subsequently given a police caution for common assault.

The show has a history of causing controversy and the previous series was the second most complained-about show of 2014, with 1,874 people contacting the watchdog about it.

The only programme with a worse record was the main Big Brother series which received 3,784 complaints, many of them centred on the behaviour of its eventual winner, Helen Wood, who was accused of bullying other contestants.

Last year, Ofcom found the main show breached the broadcasting code after a pre-watershed scene where housemates swore 14 times within 50 seconds.

Tbf whilst this was one of the most controversial series in years it was also the most signposted in terms of "offensive material." If sticking those ridiculous warnings at the start of every part isn't enough, I fail to see what else they could of done.

Eh, I quite like the show getting complaints. It shows there are still enough people to get that worked up over it - if Ken saying negro or Perez making sweet love to a window went by without any complaints, I'd be more inclined to think that it's down to lower viewing figures/interest rather than the serial complainees getting a sense of perspective.